Mechanical table

Mechanical table

Jean-François Oeben

Details

Dimensions
Overall: 27 1/2 × 32 1/4 × 18 3/8 in. (69.9 × 81.9 × 46.7 cm)
Holding institution
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
License
CC0-1.0
Credit
The Jack and Belle Linsky Collection, 1982

Art Genome Taxonomy

11 tags

Artistic Disciplines

  • Design Metadata · 98%

    The museum classifies the object as Woodwork-Furniture, identifying it as a designed furnishing object.

Styles and Movements

  • Rococo Art and Design Interpretive · 84%

    The sinuous contours, floral ornament, cabriole-like supports, scrolls, and gilt mounts are visually characteristic of Rococo design, although the museum metadata does not assign a style.

Visual Qualities

  • Highly Ornamented Visual · 99%

    The table combines dense floral marquetry, a shaped gilt-metal rim, sculptural corner mounts, framed leg panels, and elaborate feet.

  • Curvilinear Forms Visual · 98%

    The lobed tabletop perimeter, bowed apron, curved supports, scrolling mounts, and shaped feet create a strongly curving silhouette.

  • Patterns Visual · 95%

    Repeated floral and foliate motifs form an organized decorative pattern across the tabletop and apron.

Time Periods

  • 18th Century Art Metadata · 100%

    The museum dates the table to circa 1761–63.

Materials

  • Wood Both · 99%

    The catalog specifies several woods used for the veneer and marquetry, while the image clearly shows extensive dark wood veneer and contrasting wooden decoration.

  • Bronze Both · 97%

    The catalog identifies gilt-bronze mounts; gold-toned metal edging, mounts, and feet are clearly visible in the image.

  • Inlay Metadata · 88%

    The catalog explicitly describes marquetry made from multiple contrasting woods, a form of inlaid surface decoration.

Furniture and Lighting

  • Furniture Both · 100%

    The museum classification identifies the work as furniture, and the image clearly shows a freestanding furnishing.

  • Table Both · 100%

    The title and classification identify the object as a table, which is directly visible in its tabletop, apron, and legs.

Source & rights

Jean-François Oeben. Mechanical table. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.